When Stephen Harrigan, author of New York Times Bestseller The Gates of the Alamo, was first approached by the University of Texas Press to write Big Wonderful Thing, he declined the request. Harrigan explained in an interview with Texas Monthly that he did so because he didn’t see himself as a historian, rather a journalist and a novelist. This is exactly why Harrigan was the best choice for writing this book.
Writing the story of a state as large and diverse as Texas is a massive undertaking, and coming in at more than 900 pages, Big Wonderful Thing is certainly an intimidating book. However, Harrigan’s gift for storytelling makes this monumental work a pleasure to read. Throughout this extremely well-researched and fascinating book, Harrigan strives to dispel the myths of Texas history and remain true to its reality, creating a real page-turner for aficionados of Texas history and novices alike.
About the Author
Stephen Harrigan is the author of ten books of fiction and non-fiction, including New York Times Bestseller The Gates of the Alamo. A 1971 graduate of the University of Texas, Harrigan lives in Austin, where he is a faculty fellow at UT’s James A. Michener Center for Writers and a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly.
Publisher: University of Texas Press (October 1, 2019)